On January 27, 2026, the Principality perpetuated the centuries-old tradition in honor of its patron saint, in a festive atmosphere.
Bundled up in their winter coats, Monegasques and visitors alike flocked to Port Hercule from 5 p.m. onwards this Monday, January 26th, to attend the celebrations of Saint Devota. Despite the chilly temperatures of this winter evening, enthusiasm was palpable among the large crowd that had come to honor the patron saint of Monaco and the Princely Family.
Relive the show:
A tradition rooted in Monegasque history
The legend dates back to the 4th century: Devota, a young Christian martyred in Corsica during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 304 by the consul Barbarus, is said to have had her body placed in a boat guided by a dove. The boat is believed to have run aground in the Gaumates valley, at the far end of Monaco's harbor. Recognized as the patron saint of the Principality in the 17th century under Honoré II, Saint Devota has since embodied the protective spirit of Monegasque identity.
The Princely Family is presiding over the festivities.
Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, Hereditary Prince Jacques, and Princess Gabriella presided over this emotionally charged evening. After a mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Monaco at the Church of Saint Devote, the Princely Family arrived to enthusiastic applause from the crowd. The Princely Twins had the honor of lighting the symbolic boat, torches in hand, the culminating moment of the celebration. The flames rose into the night to the sound of traditional polyphonic chants, amidst the cheers of the public.
Allumee lights up the Monegasque sky
Technological innovation has joined tradition with a show of 400 drones orchestrated by the company Allumee. Above the port, the devices reshaped the Monegasque sky for almost 10 minutes, retracing the key moments in the life of Saint Devota: from her faith to her death, through her ordeal, and ending with her canonization with a Praise and Sanctus.
The narrative sound and light show, retracing the story of the Saint, was narrated by the voice of a child and enhanced by a musical composition filled with hope.
Among the show's most memorable scenes:
- Representations of Saint Devota
- The iconic dove
- The arrival of the boat in Monaco
- The boat caught fire
- The Monegasque flag and coat of arms
From the heights of the Principality to the port, spectators were able to admire the luminous drones drawing "Viva Devota" in the night, a successful fusion between ancestral heritage and modernity.
Drone sound and light shows: a new way to celebrate religious festivities.
The drone show orchestrated by Allumee for the city of Monaco is part of an emerging trend that is gradually transforming traditional religious celebrations. This technological evolution reflects a desire to combine respect for tradition with environmental awareness.
Last year, Allumee Italia – the local branch – organized a show in Taranto for the “Festa della Madonna del Carmine”, which made a lasting impression by replacing the traditional fireworks with a drone show taking off from the Castello Aragonese.
«For the first time, we considered replacing the usual fireworks display with an artistic drone flight, to send a message of environmental and acoustic sustainability,» explained Monsignor Marco Gerardo, spiritual leader of the confraternity. This decision reflects a collective awareness: «If we have succeeded with fireworks, imagine what the territory, the region, the government can achieve. The important thing is to have the capacity to unite all of us.»
Beyond the ecological aspect – reducing noise and air pollution – these drone shows also offer new narrative possibilities.
In Monaco as in Taranto, technology makes it possible to visually tell the story of the saints and to create luminous tableaux full of meaning, thus combining innovation and transmission of religious heritage.
An evolution that appeals to long-time faithful and newcomers alike, while preserving the spiritual essence of these ancestral celebrations.
